Australia signed six agreements including cooperation in civil aviation security

by Loren Pratt on 21/04/2017

Turnbull, who is on his first visit to India, will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. Thereafter, Australia put in place a safeguards agreement and last December passed the legislation to start supplying uranium to India, a trade viewed as the cornerstone of a bilateral strategic partnership.

The future of the immigration detention centre on Manus Island, which is slated for closure soon, will also be discussed but isn't anticipated to dominate the talks. He said "my trip has been all about deepening more engaged collaboration between Australia and India in the fields of economics, sports, health, science and education".

India has an ambitious nuclear power program but few indigenous uranium resources, and could provide a significant market for Australian uranium.

"The momentum we've gained at ministerial and officials levels and the support shown by Australia's universities and vocational education providers will continue to deliver for our partnership with India", Birmingham added.

Turnbull, on his first visit to India, said, "The success you have achieved is the wonder of the world. We would, therefore, actively work to cooperate more closely with members of the East Asia Summit and the Indian Ocean Rim countries". "Last year, two-way trade and good and services was almost $20 billion - more than double what it was a decade ago".

India and Australia on Monday agreed to boost counter-terrorism and defence cooperation, even as they called for a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific amid China's aggressive posturing in and around the South China Sea. "The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement will not be signed during this visit".

The duo rode the train from Mandi House station to Akshardham station. Referring to Smith's haul of 499 runs in the four-match series, Modi said,"I hope your visit to India is as productive as it has been for Steven Smith's batting, the other Australian Captain".

However, the much-anticipated Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, talks for which were initiated during the time of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, did not feature among the six MoUs.